All right, now I've done plenty of reading on here about that rattle in the engine some of us get. My rattle can usually only be heard with the radio off and windows up. I rev the engine and rattle goes away. I'd like to know how to tell if it's the coupler or the timing chain tensioner, if it's even that because when I pop the hood, sometimes the rattle doesn't even seem to come from the engine at all. What could this be?

 

Open the hood

And have a friend or your remote starter start the car a few times till it happens again
Pinpoint the best you can to were its comming from.

If itz the timig chain tensionet hold a long screw driver to the side of the motor( and press to your ear ) a few inchs above whete the water pump is. Should find a lip or spmething to rest it on and listen. Gunna have to get a friend to start the car a few times till the noise happens again. If you can hear clack clack clack its probably the tensioner. Easy job . Will cause major problems if it lets go.. So get er done

The tensioner its self if your standing infront of your motor is on the left hand side right behind the valve cover. Its a 3/4 bolt iirc that just goes into the motor. Easy to find

 

And mine didnt rattle on every start up. It would happen at random. And only last a few seconds .

 

Got ya. Very thank you for the advise. Sounds like it will be easy to find out if it is the tensioner. I hope that it is because I know it be a pretty cheap and easy fix. Now, how do I find out if it's the coupler?

 

its your timing chains

 

You sound very confident in that.

 

Cracked
Heads
Every
Valve
Rattles
Oil
Leaks
Engine
Ticks

 

this is not my car, was pullled off google

but this is where it will be, here in canada i got charged $75 for the bolt ( timing chain tensioner )

right below the arrow

 

The TCT (bolt) head is the same size as the oil filter cap ... 1 1/4 or ~31mm ish.

 

Would you recommend doing it myself? I've seem threads about how you need to tie the chain so it doesn't jump. And how you need to set the new tensioner. Or should I just take it in and get it fixed since I've never really done engine work besides usual maintenance?

 

Most say you dont need to do anything other thN take the old one out and put new one in and torque to 75ft lbs iirc

I however played it safe and took my valve cover off and uses like 6 zip ties and strapped te chain in its place than did the tensioner

If it takes you longer than 1.5 hours your doing it wronf. Super easy job . Like 2/10 for difficulty

 

Right right I've read threads saying you don't need to set the tensioner. Others saying you do. Some say no ties are needed. Some say you NEED to tie the chain. So basically all I need is the right sized socket and torque wrench?

 

Yes

I would recomed , personally take the 15 min to pull the valve cover and zip tie that chain, if it for what ever reason ratchets out . you got a few hour job, instead of taking 30 min to avoid it.
My chain didnt move, but i had the zip ties incase it did. And the tensioner should some in the conpressed state. There is info on google how to check and set it

 

you have to activate the tensioner with a long screw driver after you put it in. If you dont know you what you are doing I wouldnt recommend it. Just my $.02 how many miles?

 

I'll definitely not take a chance and tie that chain down then. Don't want anything else messing up.

How exactly do I activate it? And I've decided to do all minor work on my ride. This doesn't seem like a big job. My SS has fifty eight thousand on it right now.

 

not exactly sure. someone might be able to chime in. Just make sure you do that or you will jump a link.

 

The new style tensioners dont need to be activated. Plug and play basically.

Cuz j never herd of "activating it" till now, and i did mine months ago and its fine - i never activated mine lol so i had to google it to make sure

 

Looks like all I need to do is get a torque wrench and right sized bolt and I'm good to go. Hopefully it's just plug and play. Don't want to find out the hard way if it isn't.

 

I just ordered the revised tensioner today myself. According to Powell Race Part the revised tensioner ACDelco 12608580 is plug and play.

 

Where did you get the part from? I was thinking crateenginedepot.com.

 

I got mine from gmpartsdirect. I think I paid about $36 after shipping. Can't remember exactly how much buy it was cheaper than anyone else.

 

And this is the revised tensioner, yes?

 

Sure is but like I said it may not be $36 but it WAS the cheapest one I found.

 

I'll take a look. Thanks everyone for the input. Obliged.

 

I got mine on Amazon for $32 + shipping. ACDelco 12608580 Timing Chain Tensioner Assembly